Here for You (8 page)

“Very different, Ash. Very different.”

I pull up to her house and am amazed by the beauty of it as much as I was by her beach house. I know she said that had been her mom’s house, but the woman is definitely successful and it’s a little intimidating. I’m pretty sure I’ve met a girl I’m not good enough for, but I enjoy her company and she’s a light in my dark world, so I’m going to take advantage of what she’s offering. I walk her to her door because I really was raised with proper manners. I wasn’t just saying that to Quinn.

I give her a hug goodnight and kiss her on the forehead. “Thanks for coming out with us tonight. I enjoyed having you by my side.”

“Good luck tomorrow. I’ll be cheering for you.”

“I know you will, and it means a lot to me.”

“Will you tell me after the game tomorrow?”

She doesn’t have to say anything else. I know exactly what she’s asking. “Yes.”

“Thanks for everything.”

She’s tall, especially in four-inch heels, but she still has to reach up to kiss me on the cheek before she turns to walk in her house. I wait until the entryway light goes on, and I hear the lock click in place.

From: Ashley

Cam said he was going to talk to Johnny about getting us tickets for the game tomorrow. Do u know if he talked to him?

From: Quinn

He just got off the phone with him. Johnny is taking care of it. Ash, it’s a big game for Wills tomorrow.

From: Ashley

What do you mean?

From: Quinn

I don’t know. Something about clinching a title or something???

From: Ashley

I need Stan to come with us. I’m texting him tonight. Do u think we can get 3 tixs together?

From: Quinn

Hold on.

I know she’s laughing at me right now, but I can’t help it. I need Stan next to me to explain what’s going on during the game. I need to know if Cam is having a good game or not, and I know nothing about clinching whatever title.

From: Quinn

JP wants to know why you need to bring some old man with you … kidding! He said no problem.

From: Ashley

I need a jersey. I want him to know I’m supporting him.

From: Quinn

Hold please.

I head to my bedroom to start getting ready for bed while I wait for Quinn to respond. I have turned into a bundle of nerves in the last ten minutes, and I have no idea how I’m going to fall asleep. I hear my doorbell ring, and I know it’s Charlie. He must have been waiting for me to come home. I refuse to answer the door tonight. I don’t want to see him, and I don’t have the strength to fight with him. My phone buzzes on the bed, and I run to pick it up.

From: Charlie

Open up. I know you’re home!

I throw my phone on the bed and finish changing into my pajamas. The phone buzzes again; I’m hoping it’s Quinn this time.

From: Quinn

Johnny said he will take care of it—the jersey—he also said he thinks it will mean the world to Wills if he sees u wearing it.

This puts a smile on my face.

From: Ashley

One more favor?

From: Quinn

Name it.

From: Ashley

Can you get Cam’s number from Johnny? I want to text him and wish him good luck.

She sends the number back ten seconds later, and I stare at my screen for a full minute before I work up the courage to send a text. I’m nervous that he doesn’t want me to have it because he didn’t give it to me himself. He also didn’t ask for mine. I know we’re just friends, but I think texting is legal in our deal. Screw it. I’m sending one. He left only fifteen minutes ago, so I don’t think he can be sleeping yet.

From: Ashley

Cam, it’s Ash. I just wanted to say thanks for taking me home tonight. Good luck tomorrow. I will be your biggest fan!

From: Cam

Thanks. You better be smiling big because that’s what I’m going to look for every time I need it.

Butterflies fill my stomach and an invisible force squeezes my heart. I know it’s too late for me. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time, and I’ve only spent two evenings with this guy. I know I’m going to get hurt at some point, but I’m willing to risk it to have some great moments in my life.

From: Ashley

I promise. Smile will be huge. Sweet dreams.

From: Cam

I’m looking forward to both. See you tomorrow.

If my smile is half as big tomorrow as it is right now, it will be more than enough for him to see. I try to forget about the jerk downstairs that wants in to my house. I grab my iPod and put my earbuds in so I don’t have to hear him. Even though I risk missing something important from work or Quinn, I turn my phone to silent. Tonight I just can’t listen to it vibrate over and over. I send a quick text to Stan to call me in the morning, explaining that I need him to come with me. I just hope he can.

I think Quinn senses I’m not my usual self because she offers to take a cab to my place to pick me up so we can ride together. I’m assuming that if things go well, we may be going to a dinner or celebration after the game. If not, I can always take a cab home after the game. I’m sure Quinn will be hanging with Johnny either way, but they may not want my company if the guys lose today. Cam has no obligation to hang out with me if he doesn’t want to. I’m here for him if he needs me, and that’s it. He doesn’t need to entertain me but if he needs a friend, he knows I’ll be there.

I run out to the cab when I see it pull up and jump in the back with Quinn. She looks fantastic. Somehow she has made Johnny’s jersey and skinny jeans look sexy. Leave it to my curvy redheaded friend to sex up a game.

I smile and motion my hand in a circle in front of her. “I think this look suits you.”

“Yeah, I could get used to this.”

She pulls another jersey out of her larger-than-life purse. She could probably fit the entire team’s uniforms in there if she wanted to. Half the time I’m afraid that purse will tip her over, but I’ve long since given up arguing with her about it. I take the jersey from her and hug it to me before opening it.

“I’m nervous, Q.”

“I know, but we have each other.”

I slip it on over my long-sleeve shirt. I’m wearing a fitted white t-shirt and a fitted long-sleeve one over it. The temperature is supposed to be around seventy today, so I wanted both as it could be a little warmer or a little cooler than they say. I’m also wearing skinny jeans, so we have the same look going.

“Girl, the boots are the perfect touch. Wish I had thought to put mine on.”

I’d gone with my black cowboy boots, hoping my Texas friend will appreciate them. I smile at Quinn but don’t respond. I’m already focused on just getting there so this day can be over. I’m actually starting to get anxious; if they do win and go into playoffs, I may develop an ulcer or high blood pressure at the very least. I don’t know how they do this every game, and I certainly don’t know how the wives and girlfriends handle this pressure. Maybe it gets easier over time, but I’m afraid my need to always win is going to pose a problem in this scenario.

I need a distraction.

“So, how was your evening with Johnny?” I ask.

Quinn’s smile is naughty, and I instantly regret asking the question. “I don’t want any details today. My stomach can’t take it.”

Her face shifts to a pout, but she immediately replaces it with another smile. “Fine. I really like him. I swear there’s something different about him. I don’t know what, but I don’t see myself getting sick of him for a long time.”

I would hesitate if she said this about every guy. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard her say it, so I’m wondering if he’s going to be the first one who snags her, at least for a while. “That’s awesome, Q. I hope you do settle down with him for a while. He seems all about you.”

“Yeah, he is absolutely attentive, but I don’t think he does it just to make me happy. He seems to like taking care of me.” She shrugs her shoulders, and I see a hint of shy Quinn. “I guess we’ll see.”

I grab her hand so we each have something to hold on to. We talk about business for the last part of the ride. I’m sure Quinn is doing it just to distract me because normally she would want to talk about men in some way but she’s also nervous about getting caught up in Johnny.

When we pull up to the ballpark, I follow Quinn. Johnny gave her very specific instructions on where to go, so I’m happy to let her lead. We go to will call to get our tickets. While we’re standing in line, I get a call from Stan letting me know he’s arrived. I leave Quinn to get the tickets while I find Stan. He’s standing not far away and wearing a team hat and coat. He gives me a hug and then holds me back away from him.

“So you asked him the question, and he still invited you to the game?”

I laugh. “Yep. He has a better sense of humor than you thought. I actually think that might have helped me get an invitation.”

Stan waves his hand at me. “Nonsense. The boy is just going to try extra hard today to impress you.”

“He doesn’t have to try very hard to impress me.”

We meet back up with Quinn and the three of us make our way to our seats. We are only about fifteen minutes ahead of game time, so the place is pretty much filled in. It’s exhilarating to see the stadium packed and ready to go. Something about being in the mix of the crowd makes the game so much more exciting.

When Quinn takes us down the aisle to our seats, I realize I don’t even want to know how they got these seats. Not saying money is an issue, but I guarantee that Cam paid a lot for these since it was last minute. We are the front row, and I can almost touch the field
and
the dugout.

Stan nudges me as we sit down. “Ashley, this man is definitely sweet on you. He wants you right by him.”

My nerves kick up a bit because I know that’s not why Cam has put me here, although he does need my support. I’m starting to think I wish he actually was sweet on me, as Stan put it. I sit between Quinn and Stan and take in the park for a moment.

Many people are settled in their seats either eating a hot dog, drinking a beer or just waiting for the game to start. Others are standing and already cheering for the guys even though the game hasn’t even started.

Quinn leans over to me. “He doesn’t know you’re wearing his jersey. Johnny thought it would be a nice surprise for him.”

I look at her and smile. I don’t think I can even tell Quinn this is all a game. I’m not sure if she would be proud of me or upset, and I’m not willing to take the chance to find out how she feels. I’m afraid she’ll go into protective mode and try to prevent me from going further, knowing I will get hurt.

But I promised myself I’m going to have some great moments to look back on because I’m sick of not having that. I’m willing to risk my heart, and no one is going to stop me. Not even Cam himself. I know I said this was just for show, but there’s no way it remains only for the public. Even he has to be smart enough to know that.

I have tears in my eyes after the national anthem, and I know I’m in over my head. Before Cam heads out to the mound, he looks over at us for the first time since we got here. I think I see him laugh, and I’m sure it’s at the size of the smile on my face. I’m not even trying to make it that big, but I can’t control it because I’m so excited for him. I do a quick turn so he knows the jersey I have on is his. He’s close enough that I can see emotion cross his face. He places his gloved hand over his heart and nods my direction before he heads out to the mound.

I sit down with an arm hooked through both Quinn’s and Stan’s. Stan pats my hand with his free one. “Don’t worry. He’s going to pitch the game of his life. He wants this win more than anything.”

I nod my head and trust Stan, who has been to a million more games than me. The first few innings fly by, and I start to settle down. I look forward to the change of teams each inning as that means Cam is close.

The fifth inning is a little tense. The Flyers don’t allow any runs but a few guys get on base, and that’s too close for me. They’re still up three runs to none so I’m not too nervous but I just want this game over. My nerves really can’t take it.

“Do you want a drink?”

“No. I don’t think I can keep anything down.”

The three of us continue watching with very little conversation. It’s not that I’m not enjoying the game—I am, and I think they are too—but we’re hoping for a win so bad that it’s making all of us crazy.

When Cam heads out in the sixth inning, something is different in his demeanor. I don’t know what but something seems off. The first guy hits a single and then he throws a wild pitch, allowing the runner on first to get to second. Johnny talks to the ump and then heads out to the mound. They’re in a heated conversation, and now Quinn is tense next to me. When their coach runs out onto the field, Quinn and I look at each other. Whoever said attending baseball games was fun had no idea what this feels like.